Answered step by step
Verified Expert Solution
Link Copied!

Question

1 Approved Answer

Suppose you were the Chief Financial Officer of WPCI Drugs and Products. By 2015, WPCI had become a major player in prescription drugs with sizable

Suppose you were the Chief Financial Officer of WPCI Drugs and Products. By 2015, WPCI had become a major player in prescription drugs with sizable market share in quite a few of them, and several "blockbuster" drugs. WPCI also had numerous brand name home products such as Clean detergent and Chef Girlardee canned food.

The three pillars of WPCI's strategy were conservatism, marketing and cost control. WPCI consistently avoided much of the risk of product development and introduction in the volatile drug industry. Most of its new products were acquired or licensed after their development by other firms. Others were copies and clever extensions of products introduced by competitors. WPCI's success was built on its expertise in marketing, which eroded its competitors headstart, and on cost control, which ensured substantial margins. The results were impressive. Selected financial data for WPCI (in $ millions):

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Sales

2,471.7

2,685.1

3,062.6

3,406.3

3,798.5

Net Income

277.9

306.2

348.4

396.0

445.9

Earnings Per Share

1.75

1.94

2.21

2.51

2.84

Dividend Per Share

1.00

1.15

1.33

1.50

1.70

Cash

357.8

322.9

436.6

493.8

593.3

Total Assets

1,510.9

1,611.3

1,862.2

2,090.7

2370.3

A/P and other noninterest-bearing liabilities

511.60

565.70

670.50

758.40

883.60

Long-term + Short-term debt

7.8

10.3

13.7

10.3

13.9

Net Worth

991.5

1,035.3

1,178.0

1,322.0

1,472.8

Balance Sheet 2015

Assets

Liabilities and Equity

Cash and Cash Equivalents

593.3

A/P and other non-interest bearing liabilities

883.6

Accounts receivable

517.3

Long-term + Short-term debt

13.9

Inventory

557.3

Total Liabilities

897.5

Plant, Property & Equip.

450.5

Others

251.9

Net Worth

1,472.8

Total Assets

2,370.3

Total Liabilities + Net Worth

2,370.3

  1. Describe WPCI's capital structure for the period from 2011 to 2015. What are the likely factors leading to this capital structure? (Hint: Consider WPCIs sustainable growth and its underlying components).

2. Based on the information given above, is this capital structure likely to be optimal? If yes, explain its merits relative to alternative capital structures. If not, discuss this capital structures main drawbacks, as well as the relative merits of the different possible paths to a more suitable capital structure.

Step by Step Solution

There are 3 Steps involved in it

Step: 1

blur-text-image

Get Instant Access to Expert-Tailored Solutions

See step-by-step solutions with expert insights and AI powered tools for academic success

Step: 2

blur-text-image

Step: 3

blur-text-image

Ace Your Homework with AI

Get the answers you need in no time with our AI-driven, step-by-step assistance

Get Started

Recommended Textbook for

Contemporary Financial Management

Authors: R. Charles Moyer, William J. Kretlow, James R. Mcguigan

8th Edition

0324065914, 9780324065916

More Books

Students also viewed these Finance questions

Question

Discuss the five steps that can be used to conduct a task analysis

Answered: 1 week ago

Question

Discuss the purpose and advantages of conducting a needs assessment

Answered: 1 week ago